IGNOU inks pact with Aditya Birla Group

5 August, 2011

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has inked pact with the Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited’s owned subsidiary, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle Limited to impart necessary skills and training in garment stitching to the community members who are unemployed/ under employed and are residing mostly in the rural, suburban and disadvantaged locations.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both IGNOU and Madura Fashion and Lifestyle Limited will launch three Short Term Non Credit (STNC) courses namely: Basic Certificate in Garment Stitching for one month, Advance Certificate in Garment Stitching for two months and Advance Certificate in Garment Stitching & Quality Control for two and a half months. All of these programmes will be coordinated by IGNOU’s Regional Centre of Delhi-1 at Mohan Cooperative Estate.

The MoU was signed between University Registrar Mr U.S. Tolia and Head- Corporate Social Responsibility, Aditya Birla Group ,Mr Mr R.S. Balasubramanyam, in the presence of IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai in the board room of the VC’s office of the University.

The VC on the need to ink the pact said, “Many organisations are looking for trained human resources and are training them as a part of their corporate social responsibility. They require a certification which is provided by IGNOU. Learners may even want to pursue these courses at a certificate or diploma level which may be provided to them in the later stages.”

Under the MoU, Madura F&L shall enroll at least 200 students per year as per IGNOU approved eligibility conditions and conduct programmes at approved learning centres only. Mr. Balasubramanyam announced a special study center at Bangalore for the conduct of these courses.

“Certificates for all STNC programmes would be issued by IGNOU RC Delhi- I as per its standardized process and format,” said Dr. Sanjeev Pandey, Regional Director, RC Delhi-1.

“This initiative is undertaken as a part of company’s corporate social responsibility programme to actively contribute to the social economic development of the communities particularly of the marginalised sections of the society living in the rural and far flung areas. Such training would enable the individuals to have gainful employment in the industry and would also promote self employment,” said Mr. R.S. Balasubramanyam.

The company would be responsible for developing the teaching methodology for each programme based on its specific curriculum and learning objectives. It shall also provide practical and library facilities and shall also do the assignment evaluation, as per the guidelines & norms of IGNOU. A Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) would approve the teaching and training methodology. Madura F&L would accordingly organise teaching & learning as required at its centres and industry exposure through internship as per guidelines of the JCC.